Denver and the West

Study: Horse Park pumps $15 million annually into Parker's economy

The Colorado Horse Park in Parker is pumping an average of $15.3 million into the local economy each year, according to a consultant's analysis.

The study was commissioned by the horse park, a nonprofit organization that runs spectator events and boards horses, and was done by Colorado Springs-based Summit Economics LLC.

The park wanted to see what kind of money it brings in and what impact the horse industry has on the region.

"I guess our surprise is that we have as much impact as we do," said Helen Krieble, the park's president and CEO. "For the seven months that we work, with four prime months, it was a significant economic impact."

The park runs events from May to October.

The study showed Colorado Horse Park gets about 929 competitors every year, 799 from out of the area, and that they spend a total of $26,584 on goods, services and veterinary care when they are there.

Overall, Douglas County and Elbert County received a combined economic impact of $100 million to $135 million a year from the equine industry.

That is split among horse leasers; breeders; veterinarians; corral, fence and barn construction; and other industry segments.

It also found that Douglas County had estimated equine sales of $3.43 million, according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, ranking it first among Colorado counties and 40th in the nation.

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